MEDICAL POTENTIAL OF ARBOREAL FUNGI

Fungi are an extremely important element of ecosystems, playing a key role in the decomposition of organic matter and forming symbioses with plants and animals. The diversity of fungi is enormous, with an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million species on Earth. Some of these, known as medicinal mushrooms, have been used in medicine for centuries for their therapeutic properties, as described by Hippocrates in ancient times. Modern science is increasingly recognizing the potential of mushrooms not only in medicine but also in the food and biopharmaceutical industries. Current research focuses on the use of mushrooms as a source of valuable bioactive compounds with potential anticancer, immunomodulatory, and antibiotic properties.